"They Spent 95 Million on that Thing and My Kids are in Trailers."

[Smarmie Doofus]

--- NYC teacher on Bloomberg-era tech scam. Klein ( former Chancellor) got set up in a company by Murdoch (yes THAT Murdoch) to maintain this fucking thing to the tune of 10 M a year. Di Blasio is starting to dismantle a lot of the tech scam infrastructure of the Bloomberg years. There's a lot to dismantle, it would appear. No-bid procurements, revolving door conflicts of interest, etc etc etc.

And they called it "reform."

BTW, teacher, they're not called "trailers" anymore. They're called Moblile Instructional Units.


>>>A controversial $95 million computer system that tracks and distributes student scores and other data is headed for the scrap heap, the Daily News has learned.

The Achievement Reporting and Innovation System (ARIS) was implemented by the Education Department in 2007. It’s one of the city’s biggest computer systems, with records on more than 1 million current and former students. But it has been blasted by critics for being clunky and slow.

Former schools Chancellor Joel Klein, who oversaw the creation of ARIS, has also drawn fire for taking millions to maintain the system with his company Amplify.

That’s all coming to a screeching halt by 2015, Education officials told The News.

“The Education Department has decided to end our contract with Amplify as a result of the extremely high cost of the ARIS system, its limited functionality, and the lack of demand from parents and staff,” said agency spokeswoman Devora Kaye.

“The shockingly low usage of ARIS shows that the vast majority of families and Education Department staff don’t find it a valuable tool,” Kaye added. “By developing an internal program we’ll not only save millions of dollars, but better serve parents and school communities.”

The Education Department will >>>>>http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/city-schools-dumping-95-million-computer-system-article-1.2012454

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Ooops. That's "Transportable Classroom Units". ( i.e. trailers)

Not "Mobile Instructional Units".

http://www.classsizematters.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SPACE-CRUNCH-Report-Final-OL.pdf

Klein, et. al. should buy stock in whatever company makes them. Gov. Cuomo and the GOP Senate are aiming to lift all restrictions on charter school co-locations ( i.e. w. regular schools) in already overcrowded NYC ps buildings.

[Louisiana1976]

2. Reminds me of when I was in real estate advertising. Occasionally one of our listings would be

a trailer. I had to advertise it as a "modular home."

[Fred Sanders]

3. Another private industry fuck up, when will government learn to keep things in shop?

[sulphurdunn]

5. That was no fuck up.

It was a per-meditated scam, run on the people by their political lords. It's become the norm with public education as the mark. Big money for the taking, about 650 billion a year. What hedge fund grifter or billionaire looter could pass that up?

[daleanime]

9. Amen....

This "stuff" doesn't happen by accident.

[freshwest]

11. When the voters wise up and stop electing those pushing it and stop approving initiatives for it.

Libertarian, Tea Partiers, corporations and churches have consistent voters. You already know why they are telling the government to do this. People get what they vote for or what they don't vote for, same thing. Too many think government will just keep doing what it always did, grow and take care of details, but seem unaware that there are powerful, well funded groups who fight that. And they don't just show up at elections. They are at it all year round in community meetings of all kinds. They want their cut of the public money. It's why the hate unions and public workers since they want the jobs.

[JDPriestly]

4. Corruption otherwise known as "privatization."

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. Some good discussion and analysis of this here:

http://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/2014/11/why-are-bloomberg-and-klein-still.html

Including commentary by ex-teacher and retired Asst. NYS Comptroller, Harry Lirtzman.

[irisblue]

7. ?

"screeching halt by 2015" 13.5 months sounds like slow strangulation not screeching.

[Overseas]

8. K&R. Privatization fails again.

[NBachers]

10. Worked out pretty well for the looters.

I thought we shot looters on sight.